Ball carrier

ABSTRACT

A novelty device which includes an upright frame, and a pair of pulleys rotatably mounted on the frame by means of shaft members oriented generally perpendicular to each other and vertically spaced relative to each other. A cord is passed over each of the pulleys, the cords being secured at one of their ends to opposite sides of a receptacle, with counterweights secured to the other ends of the cords, each of the counterweights being heavier than the receptacle. Weighted loads are delivered individually to the receptacle when the receptacle is in a highest position, with the individual weighted loads supported by the receptacle. The combined weight of a supported load and receptacle is heavier than either of the counterweights attached to the ends of the cords, the receptacle and supported load thereby being capable of lowering by gravity to a lowermost position. The weighted loads are discharged automatically at a lowermost position of the receptacle whereby the receptacle automatically returns to its highest position and thereby oscillates vertically due to the biasing of the counterweights on the ends of the cords and the delivery and discharge of the weighted loads. A governor device is operatively associated with the pulleys to effect intermittent vertical movement of the receptacle during its oscillatory movement.

United States Patent Morrison [is] 3,685,202 1451 I Aug. 22, 1972 [54] BALL CARRIER [72] Inventor: Howard, J. Morrison, Highland Park, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates [22] Filed: March 24, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 127,576

[52] US. Cl. ..46/40 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63h 33/30 [58] Field of Search ..46/40, 41, 42, 43; 121/50; 74/436, 1.5; 58/116; 418/195 [56] References Cited 2 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,561,614 11/1925 Mahan ..46/42 806,930 12/ 1905 Smith ..46/42 X Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-D. L. Weinhold Attorney-James F. Coffee, James M. Wetzel, Jame R. Sweeney, J. Robert Stapleton, W. R. McNair and J R. Hoffman A novelty device which includes an upright frame, and 1 ABSTRACT a pair of pulleys rotatably mounted on the; frame by means of shaft members oriented generally perpendicular to each other and vertically spaced relative to each other. A cord is passed over each of the pulleys, I

the cords being securedat one of their ends to opposite sides of a receptacle, with counterweights secured to the other ends of the cords, each of the countenveights being heavier than the' receptacle. Weighted loads are delivered individually to the receptacle when the receptacle is in a highest position, with the individual weighted loads supported by the receptacle. The combined weight of a supported load and receptacle is heavier than either of the counterweights attached to the ends of the cords, the receptacle and supported load thereby being capable of lowering by gravity to a lowermost position. The weighted loads are discharged automatically at a lowermost position of the receptacle whereby the receptacle automatically returns to its highest position and thereby oscillates vertically due to the biasing of the counterweights on the ends of the cords and the delivery and discharge of the weighted loads. A governor device is operatively associated with the pulleys to effect intermittent vertical movement of the receptacle during its oscillatory movement.

12 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 'rmmimuszemz 7 3.685.202

' INVENTOR l/OWAPD M09080 ATTORNEYS BALL CARRIER BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION There are various self-constructed novelty devices in the art. Gravity-type automatic mechanical devices, oftentimes in the form of vertically oscillating elevator devices, have been known for some time and embody a movable receptacle adapted to travel up and down on an upright frame. Novelty devices of this character can be readily operated by the average child, thereby absorbing his attention and providing a continual interest for the child. Many times, the device is arranged to simulate the elevator of a skyscraper or office building.

An object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide a new and improved novelty device of the automatic mechanical type, and, more particularly, an automatic elevator type device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novelty device of the character described which includes a load receiving receptacle mounted for vertical movement on an upright frame, cord means attached to the receptacle and passing about pulley means, and counterweight means on the opposite end of the cord means. Means are provided for delivering weighted loads individually to the receptacle when the receptacle is in its uppermost position and automatically discharging the loads from the receptacle when the receptacle is in its lowermost position, thereby providing successive automatic vertical oscillatory operations of the receptacle until all of the weighted loads are lowered by the receptacle and automatically discharged therefrom.

The invention as contemplated herein includes governor means operatively associated with the pulley means to effect intermittent rotation of the pulley means and, in turn, effect intermittent movement of the load receiving receptacle during the vertical oscillatory movement thereof.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the pulley means includes a pair of pulleys mounted. on a pair of vertically spaced shafts mounted on the upright frame. The shafts are disposed generally perpendicular to each other. The cord means includes a cord passed over each of the pulleys, the cords being secured at one of their ends to opposite sides of the receptacle and counterweight means are secured to the other ends of the cords. The governor means includes a disc mounted at its center on each of the pulley shafts for rotation therewith. The discs are disposed so that the peripheries thereof are meshed by means of complementary interengaging surfaces to limit the pulleys to alternate intermittent rotation. The discs are disposed generally perpendicular to each other on the perpendicular pulley shafts. The peripheries of the discs have a plurality of slots formed therein, the slots being wider than the thickness of the discs so that the peripheral portions of the discs between the slots can pass through the slots of the other disc alternately and seriatim to effect alternate intermittent rotation of the pulleys. At least the trailing edge of the slots, relative to the direction of rotation of the discs have generally flat surfaces disposed oblique to the planes of the discs to facilitate the meshing of the peripheral portions of the discs through the slots in the opposite disc.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a passage means from a storage compartment for the weighted loads to a delivery point of the loads to the receptacle when in its uppermost position, and means to release a weighted load from the storage compartment into the passage means automatically in response to a preceding weighted load being delivered to the receptacle. The weight of the counterweights on the cords is adjustable in order to time the oscillatory vertical movement of the receptacle so that it reaches its uppermost position to receive a load at the same time a weighted load reaches the delivery point after passing through said passage means.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 4

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken generally along the I line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken generally along the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the load receiving receptacle of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the counterweight means on the end of the cord means of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the pivot connection for the automatic release means of the weighted loads from their storage positions; and

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the device of the present invention, illustrating the various components thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings in greater detail and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a novelty device in the form of a self-constructed automatic mechanical elevator device, generally designated 10, is shown to include an upright frame which has an upper housing portion,

generally designated 12, an intermediate upright post member 14, and a lower, generally flat base portion, generally designated 16.

A pair of pulleys 18a and 18b are mounted on the upper housing portion 12 of the upright frame by means of generally perpendicular, vertically spaced shafts 20a and 20b respectively. A pair of cords 22a and 22b are passed over the pulleys 18d and 18b, respectively, and are secured at one of their ends to opposite ends of a rod 24 to which is fixed a load receiving receptacle 26. Counterweight means 28a and 28b are secured to the opposite ends of the cords 22a and 22b, respectively.

Before going into the details of the present invention, a general description of the operation of the device is in order. It will be appreciated that in order to effect vertical oscillatory movement of the receptacle 26, the

weight of the counterweights must be in excess of that of the receptacle, and the combined weight of the bles M, must exceed that of the counterweight means. Actually, as will become apparent hereinafter, the weight of each of the counterweight means 28a and 28on the ends of the cords 22a and 22b, respectively, must exceed that of the weight of the receptacle 26. When the receptacle 26 is empty, the heavier weight of the counterweight means will pull on the ends of the cords and cause the receptacle to move upwardly in the direction of arrow A (FIG. 1) until the receptacle reaches its uppermost position where it receives a weighted load at a delivery point, generally designated 30 in FIG. 1. At that point, by means to be described in greater detail hereinafter, a weighted load is delivered to the receptacle 26 where the load seats in an upwardly facing concave recess 26a. Since the combined weight of the receptacle 26 and its supported weighted load exceeds that of the counterweight means, the receptacle and the supported load will lower by gravity to a lowermost position where the load is automatically discharged into a recess 32 formed on top of the flat base portion 16 of the frame. The automatic discharge of the supported load is effected by means of an offset arm 34 which, as best seen in FIG. 2, will first engage the flat base portion 16 causing the receptacle to tile and dump the supported load. Once the load is discharged, the counterweight means again is effective to move the receptacle upwardly in the direction of arrow A to successively pick up another weighted load to repeat the oscillatory movement of the receptacle. This movement continues until all of the weighted loads have been delivered from the upper housing portion 12 of the upright frame to the receptacle 26 and discharged into the recess 32 in the lower base portion 16 of the frame.

Before going into the governor means for controlling the rotation of the pulleys 18a and 18b, and thus the movement of the receptacle 26, the delivery means for the weighted loads to the receptacle '26 will be described. As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8, the upper housing portion 12 of the upright frame is formed with an upper storage compartment, generally designated 34, and inclined passage means or compartment, generally designated 36, and a vertical passage means or compartment, generally designated 38. The weighted loads, such as the marbles M, are stored in the storage compartment 34 and are automatically released for winding movement down the inclined passage compartment 36 between baffles 36a and through an opening 36b into the vertical passage compartment 38 whereupon the weighted loads or marbles fall seriatim onto stepped baffles 38a until the-weighted loads reach a lowermost position, as at 40 in FIG. 2. At this point, the loads come into contact with the upper surface 42 (FIG. 2) of a cantilever structure, generally designated 44. The weight of an individual load or marble M causes the cantilever structure 44 to pivot about a pair of pins 46 disposed in slots 48 of a pair of ears 50 secured to the upper housing portion 12 of the upright frame. The weight of the load of marble M causes the front end of the. cantilever structure 44 to move downwardly in the direction of arrow B until there is sufficient clearance between the upper surface 42 of the cantilever structure 44 and the lower surface of a lip 52 fixed to the lower edge of the front wall of the vertical passage compartment 38 for the marble to pass therebetween. The load or marble then falls through an aperture 54 at the front of the cantilever structure and into the concave recess 26a of the receptacle 26.

Means is provided to automatically release a successive load from the storage compartment 34 into the passageway formed by the passage compartments 36 and 38 in response to a load being delivered to the receptacle 26 through the aperture 54. This means includes a vertical release arm 56 secured at its lower end to the cantilever structure 44 in front of the pivot pins 46, with the upper end 56a of the release arm extending through a slot 58 at the base of the storage compartment 34. Thus, it will be understood that as the front end of the cantilever structure 44 moves downwardly in the direction of arrow B to deliver a marble or load to the receptacle 26 and then back upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 2, the upper end 56a of the release arm 56 also will move downwardly to discharge a succeeding load into the inclined passage compartment 36 and then move back upwardly in the direction of arrow C (FIG. 2) to block the next succeeding load.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, a counterweight 60 is secured to a rod 60a disposed at the rear end of the cantilever structure 44 and is adjustably mounted on the cantilever structure 44 by means of a plurality of notches 62 in the upper edge of a pair of rearwardly extending arms 64 of the cantilever structure. This counterweight may be moved fore and aft on the cantilever structure to adjust the movement of the cantilever structure 44 to accommodate various weighted loads.

The unique escapement mechanism or governor means of the present invention is shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3 and comprises a pair I of discs, generally designated 66a and 66b which are secured at the centers thereof to the pulley shafts 20a and 20b, respectively. The discs are disposed along the shafts generally in the area of the intersection of vertical planes passing through the shafts. The peripheral edges of the discs are meshed by means of complementary interengaging surfaces to limit the shafts 20a and 20b (and thus the pulleys 18a and 18b) to alternate intermittent rotation. More particularly, a plurality of slots 68a in disc 66a and 68b in disc 66b are formed in the periphery of the discs. The slots are wider than the thickness of the discs so that the peripheral portions of each of the discs I between the slots thereof can pass through the slots of D in FIG. 2. It will be understood that when a peripheral edge portion (between a pair of adjacent slots) in one of the end discs (for instance, peripheral edge portion of disc 66a) reaches a slot (for instance, slot 68b of disc 66b), that peripheral edge por- At that moment, the weight of the receptacle 26 and its supported load (which constantly has been biasing disc 66d in the direction of arrow D) will cause peripheral edge portion 72 of disc 76b to pass through the slot 68a in disc 66a which is immediately behind peripheral edge portion 70. Disc 66a, and thus pulley 18a, stop rotating while the peripheral edge portion 72 of disc 66b passes through the slot in disc 66a. This alternate and seriatim interrneshing of the slots and peripheral edge portions of the discs 66a and 66b, in turn, effect alternate intermittent rotation of the pulleys 18a and 18b to effect intermittent movement of the receptacle 26 during its vertical oscillatory movement to pick up and discharge the weighted loads. In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, due to the length of the receptacle rod 24 (FIG. 1), the receptacle 26 will wobble in the direction of arrow E as it is raised and lowered.

It should be pointed out that the edges of the slots 68a and 68b in the discs 68a and 66b, respectively, preferably are oblique to the planes of the discs to present edge portions which reduce friction between the discs and facilitate the aforesaid alternate, seriatim rotatable interrneshing of the discs.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 6, the counterweight means 28a and 28b may include a plurality of washerlike members 76 to permit adjustment of the weight of the counterweight means and thereby adjust the speed of movement of the receptacle 26. This is important so that the receptacle reaches its uppermost position to pick up a weighted load or marble M at the same time that the marble reaches the lower point 40 of the vertical passage compartment 38. If the receptacle is not in such position, the marble will fall from the aperture 54 and most likely bounce off of the receptacle. Additional sleeve-type weights 78 (as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 5) may be telescoped over ears 80 on the sides of the receptacle 26 to further facilitate adjustment of the speed of movement of the receptacle.

FIG. 8 shows an exploded perspective view of the upper housing portion 12 of the upright frame, including the storage compartment 34 and passage compartments 36 and 38, to illustrate means for assembling the structure. The upper housing portion 12 includes a lower rectangular frame member 80 having upwardly facing peripheral groove means 82. A pair of reinforcing blocks 84 first are positioned in the grooves at the opposite corners of the rectangular frame member 80. Four rectangular panels 86a through 86d are positioned in the groove means 82, with notchedportions 88 thereof received in grooves or notches in the reinforcing blocks 84. The pulley and disc shafts a and 20b are pivoted on mounting blocks 90 which in turn are seated between L-shaped braces 92 on the inside of the panels 86a-86d. The vertical passage compartment 38 has hooks 92 which are disposed in slots 94 of the front panel 86c to support the passage compartment on the front of housing portion 12 of the upright frame. The upper storage compartment 34 has a body portion 96 and a front panel portion 98 which is disposed behind ears 100 of the body portion 96. The body portion and front panel 98 are inserted downwardly into a trough 102 defined at the rear of the inclined passage compartment 36. The structure which defines the passage area 36 has downwardly facing groove means similar to the groove means 82 for seating on the top edges of the panels 86ab. Prior to positioning the passage compartment 36 and storage compartment 34 on top of the panels 86a-5d, the release arm 56 is mounted on the cantilever structure 44 so that the arm may extend at the upper end 56a thereof through the slot 58 in the inclined passage compartment 36.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for cleamess of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a novelty device which includes an upright frame for positioning on a supporting surface, pulley means rotatably mounted on the frame above the supporting surface, cord means passed over the pulley means, a receptacle secured to one end of the cord means and counterweight means secured to the other end of .the cord means for vertical oscillatory movement of the receptacle and counterweight means, said counterweight means being heavier than said receptacle, means for delivering a weight to said receptacle when the receptacle is in an uppermost position with the weight supported by the receptacle, said supported weight and receptacle being heavier than said counterweight means so that the receptacle lowers by gravity to a lowermost position, and means for automatically discharging the supported weight at said lowermost position of said receptacle, the improvement comprising: governor means operatively associated with said pulley means to effect intermittent rotation of the pulley means and thus said receptacle during said oscillatory movement of the receptacle.

2. The novelty device of claim 1 wherein said pulley means includes a pair of spaced pulleys mounted on said frame, said cord means includes a cord passed over each of said pulleys, the cords being secured at one of their ends to opposite sides of said receptacle and counterweight means secured to the other ends of said cords, and said governor means is operatively associated with said pulleys for effecting alternate intermittent rotation of the pulleys and thus intermittent movement of said receptacle.

3. The novelty device of claim 2 wherein said pulleys are mounted on a pair of shafts rotatably mounted on said upright frame, the shafts being disposed generally perpendicular to each other, and said governor means being disposed generally in the area of the intersection of vertical planes passing through said shafts.

4. The novelty device of claim 3 wherein said shafts are vertically spaced and at 'least a portion of said governor means is disposed vertically between the shafts. 4

5. The novelty device of claim 2 wherein said pulleys are mounted on a pair of vertically spaced shafts rotatably mounted on said upright frame, the shafts being disposed such that vertical planes passing through the shafts intersect, and said governor means includes a disc mounted at its center on each of said shafts for rotation therewith and disposed generally in the area of said intersection, the periphery of said discs being intermeshed by means of complementary interengaging surfaces to limit said pulleys to said alternate intermittent rotation.

6. The novelty device of claim wherein said discs are disposed at an angle to each other and have generally circular peripheries, and said complementary interengaging surface means comprise a plurality of slots formed in the periphery of the discs, said slots being wider than the thickness of the discs so that the peripheral portions of each disc between the slots therein can pass alternately and seriatim through the slots of the other disc to effect said alternate intermittent rotation.

7. The novelty device of claim 6 wherein said discs are disposed generally perpendicular to each other.

8. The novelty device of claim 6 wherein at least the trailing edge of said slots, relative to the direction of rotation of the discs, are defined by generally flat surface means disposed oblique to the plane of the discs.

9. In a novelty device which includes an upright frame for positioning on a supporting surface, pulley means rotatably mounted on the frame above the supporting surface, cord means passed over the pulley means, a receptacle secured to one end of the cord means and counterweight means secured to the other end of the cord means for vertical oscillatory movement of the receptacle and counterweight means, said counterweight means being heavier than said receptacle, means delivering a weighted load to said receptacle when the receptacle is in an uppermost position with the weight supported by the receptacle, said supported weight and receptacle being heavier than said counterweight means so that the receptacle lowers by gravity to a lowermost position, the improvement comprising: means defining a storage compartment for a plurality of weighted loads, passage means for the weighted loads from said storage compartment to a delivery point of the loads to the receptacle, said delivery point being disposed immediately adjacent the uppermost position of the receptacle for delivering said loads to the receptacle, said passage at said delivery point being open to passage means being of a sufficient length and configuration relative to the length of said cord and the weight of said loads and counterweight means so that the time for a load to pass along the passage means to said delivery point from said storage compartment may be substantially equal to an oscillatory cycle of movement of said receptacle from its uppermost position to its lowermost position and back to its uppermost position, and means to release a weighted load from the storage compartment into the passage means automatically in response to a preceding weighted load being delivered to the receptacle so that there is continuous movement of one of the weighted loads along said passage means during oscillatory movement of said receptacle.

10. The novelty device of claim 9 wherein said storage compartment is disposed above the delivery point of the weighted loads to the receptacle, and including a horizontally pivoted cantilever structure having a first portion disposed at said delivery point for receiving a weighted load and immediately delivering the load toward the uppermost position of said receptacle and a counterweight portion biasing said first portion upwardly to a receiving position, and a release arm secured to the cantilever structure and extending up wardly to said storage comcpartment to normally block entry of the weighted loa s into said passage means.

said weighted loads being capable of overcoming said counterweight portion to pivot the cantilever structure when a load is on said receiving portion thereof to pivot said release arm to release a weighted load from the storage compartment into said passage means.

11. The novelty device of claim 10 including means for adjusting the weight of said counterweight portion to adjust movement of the cantilever structure to accommodate various weighted loads.

12. The novelty device of claim 9 including means for adjusting said counterweight means to insure that said receptacle is at its uppermost position when a weighted load reaches the delivery point of said deliver the loads from the passage means regardless of 40 Passage means from Said storage compartmentthe movement or position of the receptacle, said UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 685,202 Dated August 22, 1972 Invent0r(s) Howard J. Morrison 2 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 25, change "tile" to tilt--.

Column 3, line 44, change "a.nd to a.n-.

Column 6, line 2, change "86agb" to -86a86b-.

Column 6, line 4, change "86a- 61" to -86a86d.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of February 1973.

Attcst:

EDWARD M.FLETCI1IR, JR 7 ROBERT G OTTSCHALK v Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM FO-105O (10-69) USCOMM DC 603764369 9 US, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFXCE: I569 0-366-334 

1. In a novelty device which includes an upright frame for positioning on a supporting surface, pulley means rotatably mounted on the frame above the supporting surface, cord means passed over the pulley means, a receptacle secured to one end of the cord means and counterweight means secured to the other end of the cord means for vertical oscillatory movement of the receptacle aNd counterweight means, said counterweight means being heavier than said receptacle, means for delivering a weight to said receptacle when the receptacle is in an uppermost position with the weight supported by the receptacle, said supported weight and receptacle being heavier than said counterweight means so that the receptacle lowers by gravity to a lowermost position, and means for automatically discharging the supported weight at said lowermost position of said receptacle, the improvement comprising: governor means operatively associated with said pulley means to effect intermittent rotation of the pulley means and thus said receptacle during said oscillatory movement of the receptacle.
 2. The novelty device of claim 1 wherein said pulley means includes a pair of spaced pulleys mounted on said frame, said cord means includes a cord passed over each of said pulleys, the cords being secured at one of their ends to opposite sides of said receptacle and counterweight means secured to the other ends of said cords, and said governor means is operatively associated with said pulleys for effecting alternate intermittent rotation of the pulleys and thus intermittent movement of said receptacle.
 3. The novelty device of claim 2 wherein said pulleys are mounted on a pair of shafts rotatably mounted on said upright frame, the shafts being disposed generally perpendicular to each other, and said governor means being disposed generally in the area of the intersection of vertical planes passing through said shafts.
 4. The novelty device of claim 3 wherein said shafts are vertically spaced and at least a portion of said governor means is disposed vertically between the shafts.
 5. The novelty device of claim 2 wherein said pulleys are mounted on a pair of vertically spaced shafts rotatably mounted on said upright frame, the shafts being disposed such that vertical planes passing through the shafts intersect, and said governor means includes a disc mounted at its center on each of said shafts for rotation therewith and disposed generally in the area of said intersection, the periphery of said discs being intermeshed by means of complementary interengaging surfaces to limit said pulleys to said alternate intermittent rotation.
 6. The novelty device of claim 5 wherein said discs are disposed at an angle to each other and have generally circular peripheries, and said complementary interengaging surface means comprise a plurality of slots formed in the periphery of the discs, said slots being wider than the thickness of the discs so that the peripheral portions of each disc between the slots therein can pass alternately and seriatim through the slots of the other disc to effect said alternate intermittent rotation.
 7. The novelty device of claim 6 wherein said discs are disposed generally perpendicular to each other.
 8. The novelty device of claim 6 wherein at least the trailing edge of said slots, relative to the direction of rotation of the discs, are defined by generally flat surface means disposed oblique to the plane of the discs.
 9. In a novelty device which includes an upright frame for positioning on a supporting surface, pulley means rotatably mounted on the frame above the supporting surface, cord means passed over the pulley means, a receptacle secured to one end of the cord means and counterweight means secured to the other end of the cord means for vertical oscillatory movement of the receptacle and counterweight means, said counterweight means being heavier than said receptacle, means delivering a weighted load to said receptacle when the receptacle is in an uppermost position with the weight supported by the receptacle, said supported weight and receptacle being heavier than said counterweight means so that the receptacle lowers by gravity to a lowermost position, the improvement comprising: means defining a storage compartment for a plurality of weighted loads, passage means for the weighted loads from said storage compartment to a delivery point of the loads to the receptacle, said delivery point being disposed immediately adjacent the uppermost position of the receptacle for delivering said loads to the receptacle, said passage at said delivery point being open to deliver the loads from the passage means regardless of the movement or position of the receptacle, said passage means being of a sufficient length and configuration relative to the length of said cord and the weight of said loads and counterweight means so that the time for a load to pass along the passage means to said delivery point from said storage compartment may be substantially equal to an oscillatory cycle of movement of said receptacle from its uppermost position to its lowermost position and back to its uppermost position, and means to release a weighted load from the storage compartment into the passage means automatically in response to a preceding weighted load being delivered to the receptacle so that there is continuous movement of one of the weighted loads along said passage means during oscillatory movement of said receptacle.
 10. The novelty device of claim 9 wherein said storage compartment is disposed above the delivery point of the weighted loads to the receptacle, and including a horizontally pivoted cantilever structure having a first portion disposed at said delivery point for receiving a weighted load and immediately delivering the load toward the uppermost position of said receptacle and a counterweight portion biasing said first portion upwardly to a receiving position, and a release arm secured to the cantilever structure and extending upwardly to said storage compartment to normally block entry of the weighted loads into said passage means, said weighted loads being capable of overcoming said counterweight portion to pivot the cantilever structure when a load is on said receiving portion thereof to pivot said release arm to release a weighted load from the storage compartment into said passage means.
 11. The novelty device of claim 10 including means for adjusting the weight of said counterweight portion to adjust movement of the cantilever structure to accommodate various weighted loads.
 12. The novelty device of claim 9 including means for adjusting said counterweight means to insure that said receptacle is at its uppermost position when a weighted load reaches the delivery point of said passage means from said storage compartment. 